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I did stay there- and wouldn't again. Although I wasn't harangued, there was always an uncomfortable feeling that if you said/did the 'wrong' thing you might be turfed out, even at 10pm. The building is beautiful- especially the 'museum', dining room etc, and the shower is beautiful. But there were eight people crammed into a very small bedroom and it got very hot.Portia1 said:I did not actually stay in her alberque in Rabe de las Calzadas but I was harranged by the woman running the Albergue there after she found out I was staying at the Liberamous Domine Alberque.
dougfitz said:I would avoid Albergue de Ribadiso da Baixo were I to walk again...as he stumbled around trying to find his way to the toilet, left the dormitory door open and could then clearly be heard vomiting. His return journey half an hour later was only a little less disruptive.
Ha! I stayed here while there was a vomiting pilgrim as well!
Portia1 said:I did not actually stay in her alberque in Rabe de las Calzadas but I was harranged by the woman running the Albergue there after she found out I was staying at the Liberamous Domine Alberque. She yelled at me and stomped her feet complaining that pilgrims were obligated to stay in the municiple. She yelled after me all the way down the street. I had been warned about her before but encountering her in the flesh was ENOUGH! There are a lot of stories of her poor treatment of pilgrims and my stay at the other Alberque was delightful--very clean, nice young couple and good dinner (albeit with no wine available).
gregdedman said:even the worst of albergues today are far superior to those of a hundred years ago.
When we were hospitaleros in Guacelmo, I took the advantage of going through their library and found a book relating to the Pilgrimages of the past. In one case apparently, a hospitalero was proud that he kept a very clean albergue, because he changed the straw on the floor serving as mattresses once a year! Anne
falcon269 said:Manjarin.
Just having coffee gave me the creeps.
W e stayed at Pedro's last year. Perhaps it was a bit overpriced and the kitchen was not very clean, but the food was good and plentiful. The house was very special, and so was Pedro. It was a place I will remember. I can't understand that you found Pedro creepy, and I don't think it is nice to use his name in the forum.PadreQ said:I am in Villafranca Montes de Oca at the albergue connected to the hotel. So far, very nice. The one I wish I had missed was Ceruena Virgen de Guadalupe. Overpriced at 13 + 7 for dinner. Not at all good value for money. Pedro is creepy and my bed had a hump in the middle. Not too comfy!
Rebekah Scott said:Albergue Putzu at the entry to Boadilla del Camino.
I hesitate to name places on boards like these, as sometimes innkeepers have "off" days and bad moods, and I have myself occasionally put the "hostile" in "hospitality." But I live a couple of days down the trail from this place, and have heard some truly hair-raising tales about the guy who runs it: He is an abusive drunk, he is completely motivated by money, he harrasses young woman pilgrims, he does not keep the place clean, he charges different prices according to nationality... you name it. He threw me out of the place one afternoon because I was just having a drink, not signing on for a room for the night. NOT recommended.
We stayed in La Virgen de Guadalupe in 2009. It was like an oasis in the desert for us! We had decided to walk on from Azofra in the afternoon, when it was far too hot. At the entrance to the "phantom" housing estate, we saw a sign for this unexpected albergue in Cirueña (I didn't have anything on my list for this village). We liked the old house, found Pedro very, very welcoming, enjoyed our communal dinner there, went to the prayer service in the church that Pedro organised, had a good night's sleep and set off the next morning after breakfast, thoroughly refreshed and thanking our lucky stars that we hadn't had to walk as far as Sto. Domingo that late afternoon! La Virgen de Guadalupe was added to my list of positive "places to stay". AnneTulle said:W e stayed at Pedro's last year. Perhaps it was a bit overpriced and the kitchen was not very clean, but the food was good and plentiful. The house was very special, and so was Pedro. It was a place I will remember. I can't understand that you found Pedro creepy, and I don't think it is nice to use his name in the forum.PadreQ said:I am in Villafranca Montes de Oca at the albergue connected to the hotel. So far, very nice. The one I wish I had missed was Ceruena Virgen de Guadalupe. Overpriced at 13 + 7 for dinner. Not at all good value for money. Pedro is creepy and my bed had a hump in the middle. Not too comfy!
Our experiences and remarks of appreciation and/or complaint to owners or hospitaleros, at the over 80 albergues where we could stay during our 3 "caminos" from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela (2008, 2009, 2011), were invariably related to the balance between owner/hospitalero attitude, available amenities, and our physical/mental state.Corina said:It's surprising that so many of the best albergues are so lacking in what you would expect to be the best things. I think the best times we had were in the simplest albergues.
They had some major renovation going on this spring, so the problems may be solved. Their view is gone, however, because of new construction. Sunset on their veranda was quite beautiful.Albergue Ave Fenix in Villafranca del Bierzo
annakappa said:Municipal in Hornillos. That is the only one that I purposely avoided this year, even although it means a very long day's walk to reach Hontanas. Astorga: well I wouldn't stay at S. Javier again, even although when we did, I knew of their bed bug problems, fortunately they didn't bite us. However, having served as hospitalero in Rababal (one day's walk from Astoga), we treated many people with bed bug bites, having slept the night before at S. Javier. That was in 2010, but when walking again this year, we heard the same story regarding S. Javier. Anne
falcon269 said:The permethrin has worked for me for total bed bug protection -- no bites in ten caminos. Having walked in spring and fall, fall has more bed bugs. They have had all summer to breed and be moved along the pilgrimage by the pilgrim masses. It is OK to watch for them, but I recommend that you do not let worry about them ruin your experience. Unless you are allergic, a bite is a very minor annoyance. A bit more annoying is treating your equipment when you get home, but I do that regardless of whether I have seen a bed bug or not!
CaminoJohn said:dougfitz said:I would avoid Albergue de Ribadiso da Baixo were I to walk again...as he stumbled around trying to find his way to the toilet, left the dormitory door open and could then clearly be heard vomiting. His return journey half an hour later was only a little less disruptive.
Ha! I stayed here while there was a vomiting pilgrim as well!
WolverineDG said:Portia1 said:I did not actually stay in her alberque in Rabe de las Calzadas but I was harranged by the woman running the Albergue there after she found out I was staying at the Liberamous Domine Alberque. She yelled at me and stomped her feet complaining that pilgrims were obligated to stay in the municiple. She yelled after me all the way down the street. I had been warned about her before but encountering her in the flesh was ENOUGH! There are a lot of stories of her poor treatment of pilgrims and my stay at the other Alberque was delightful--very clean, nice young couple and good dinner (albeit with no wine available).
I'm so glad I was one of the first to stay at the Liberamous albergue & put a dent in that woman's business. :mrgreen: I wasn't too enthusiastic about staying in Hornillos again, so having the option to stay in Rabanal was great. The place was great & the food good.I did walk a bit with someone who stayed at that woman's place & he said he liked it, so different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Kelly
falcon269 said:Manjarin.
Just having coffee gave me the creeps.
The Rother Guide gives it "3 shells". I guess they haven't met the guy who runs it. He basically yelled at my wife & I to go and find the "Hotel" up the road, although the place seemed empty.Rebekah Scott said:Albergue Putzu at the entry to Boadilla del Camino.
.....have heard some truly hair-raising tales about the guy who runs it:
Sure is! And you can always have a 'Party' there , within reason of course. :mrgreen:colinPeter said:Don't know why anyone would stay there, the Albergue up the road (en el Camino) has been a highlite the two times we've stayed there.
Eduardo had to help a Swiss girl to her bed in the middle of dinner because she ignored the "within reason" part.Sure is! And you can always have a 'Party' there, within reason of course
nc6000 said:I would avoid Larrasoana, when I was there it was a Sunday and there was nowhere to get dinner or even get a coffee. Stopping at Zubiri instead seems to be a better option but doesn't look great either.
The municipal in the converted church in Sahagun looked pretty bad too. I was considering staying there but decided to keep walking it was so bad.
flyswatty said:nc6000 said:I would avoid Larrasoana, when I was there it was a Sunday and there was nowhere to get dinner or even get a coffee. Stopping at Zubiri instead seems to be a better option but doesn't look great either.
The municipal in the converted church in Sahagun looked pretty bad too. I was considering staying there but decided to keep walking it was so bad.
I stayed there last year and thought it was fine. Did you actually spend time in the living quarters? I liked the set up of bunks being in groups of 4. The kitchen facilities were good as well.
jpflavin1 said:The one Albergue I would recommend to avoid is the Municipal in Najera. A large Albergue in a beautiful setting along the river. That being said, They only have a 40 gallon water heater, so cold showers, (probably not so bad in the Summer) but tough in the Spring, and no toilets seats for men or women. The Hospitalero's were also not welcoming. I have four criteria that I believe make a for a good Albergue experience . Hospitalero's, Setting or location, Hot water, and toilet seats. Najera failed on 3. Another persons experience could be different.
Ultreya
Joe
nc6000 said:flyswatty said:nc6000 said:I would avoid Larrasoana, when I was there it was a Sunday and there was nowhere to get dinner or even get a coffee. Stopping at Zubiri instead seems to be a better option but doesn't look great either.
The municipal in the converted church in Sahagun looked pretty bad too. I was considering staying there but decided to keep walking it was so bad.
I stayed there last year and thought it was fine. Did you actually spend time in the living quarters? I liked the set up of bunks being in groups of 4. The kitchen facilities were good as well.
No, I didn't spend much time there. I just had a quick look around, there wasn't a hospitalero there and only a couple of pilgrims. Maybe it wasn't as bad as I initially thought.
Albergue Titas , Boadillo del Camino was my mistake. A very clean soulless place . No early leaving (8 of us, had to wait for the owner retrieved the key) I was glad there wasn't a fire! Mr Grumbles wasn't the best of hosts. Sleep is an option. The beds are new, there are small lights at each bed. The problem is that this is one large room. At one end are the restrooms, they don't have a ceiling so when the light comes on, a toilet is flushed , hands are washed or various bodily sounds are made, they are shared.Manjarin.
Just having coffee gave me the creeps.
Ha ha ha! I met that couple in the fall of 2012! It was out past Leon on the way to Astorga on the alternate route. There was a young man who had set up a "hang out" of sorts. He was parked near the barn of an abandoned farm. He was out n the middle of nowhere. He provided, free food, water, juice, tea, coffee, snacks, you name it. He would take no money. There was a little hovel he created with a roaring wood stove that he was cooking and heating water on. It was a very cold and blustery day and I spent a few hours there warming up. That young couple was there and that dog was the happiest dog I've ever met. At the time he still had all 4 legs biut one was badly mangled and it just sort of hung limp. 3 legs and he could chase a ball like nobody's business. They sure loved that dog. I hope I can find them again when I go back this summer. That was one of my best days on the trail.Late October this year , I was walking in the Maseta and I had decieded that this time , I wanted to avoid the albergue at Poblacion de Campos - I felt it a bit grotty and had been very ill after spending a night there on my last camino.
On passing at noon , I noticed a chariot pram parked outside this albergue - I was intrigued after all the threads about walking with a baby and knocked on the door.
The albergue was officially closed but there was a young german couple in their mid 20s and the chariot was for their dog , a border collie that had been injured in an accident and lost the use of one of it's front legs. The dog was been pushed around like lord muck but throw a stick and watch that dog go - their argument was that the stoney path was tough on the dog's paws - point taken.
The couple had little cash and were helping out at the local Hostal in exchange for lodgings at the Albergue and some food - sure they were given some cash after their 10 day stint as well.
So , I stayed , I stayed in fact for two while days. Two other pilgrims also joined us and I cooked a comunal meal for us all one evening.
The Albergue had a vibe about it , one could come and go as you pleased , sleep when you wanted to - there was a general 'Hippie' atmosphere , much like the old San Bol albergue.
And so , I had a ball , let my hair down , relaxed ........... and I had been hell bent on passing it by.- just goes to show - you never know. :mrgreen:
The municipal in Muxia was one I would not return to, even though facilities are good and the place is very clean, it has a totally sterile atmosphere, architect designed to make a statement and that statement did not include any concept that tired, weary human beings would reside overnight, huge expanses of bare concrete walls, most peregrinos decamped as soon as showered and beds were made up to a couple of the seafront cafe/bars where within minutes a true camino atmosphere existed. I arrived on a Sunday and was glad that my Muxiana certificate was available from the hospitalero waiting than having to wait for the council offices to open on Monday but there wasn't even a word said when handed over, a total contrast to the municipal in Finisterre which although comparatively cramped and lacking sufficient showers for its capacity, greeted everyone collecting a Finisterra warmly, offered free hugsand a racion of tortilla and was altogether a more human and humane albergue.
Seamus
I last saw them at Leon where I stopped , it was bitterly cold and they had slept in the park in their tent. Before saying goodbye I gave them my much cherrished camping gaz stove with a full canister - it went to a good home.Ha ha ha! I met that couple in the fall of 2012! It was out past Leon on the way to Astorga on the alternate route. There was a young man who had set up a "hang out" of sorts. He was parked near the barn of an abandoned farm. He was out n the middle of nowhere. He provided, free food, water, juice, tea, coffee, snacks, you name it. He would take no money. There was a little hovel he created with a roaring wood stove that he was cooking and heating water on. It was a very cold and blustery day and I spent a few hours there warming up. That young couple was there and that dog was the happiest dog I've ever met. At the time he still had all 4 legs biut one was badly mangled and it just sort of hung limp. 3 legs and he could chase a ball like nobody's business. They sure loved that dog. I hope I can find them again when I go back this summer. That was one of my best days on the trail.
1) San Juan de OrtegaManjarin.
Just having coffee gave me the creeps.
I have submitted this elsewhere, but I thought I would repost to echo the opinion expressed by FatmaG
Let me add to your list of not recommended.
8.6 km past O’Cebreiro is Alto do Poio. If you cross the road to the Hostal Santa Maria do Poio, you will come across the rudest, and obviously the most unhappy bar owner in Spain. After almost four weeks on the Camino, it was my first really unpleasant experience. If I’d walked only 3.5 km more, there is a beautiful new albergue in Fonfria.
Are you saying that the albergue in San Juan de Ortega is one to be avoided? Because my stay there provided one of my more memorable Camino experiences.1) San Juan de Ortega
2) The place near the top of montjardin run by the dutch fundamentalists
I agree! I stayed there on my first Camino Frances, complete with garlic soup. There was no hot water, and the showers were broken. All illumination came from a single 11 watt bulb in the middle of the room. It was cold and dank, and the bunk sagged like a hammock. Still, I would not have missed it. I did not stay again on multiple repeat caminos; once was exactly the right number of times to stay for me.So …… what’s there to avoid about the albergue in San Juan de Ortega?
But was the machine working next morning? No, it was not. Which meant that the whole lot of us set off in the frigid, frosty morning without even a hot drink - no, I did not see anyone using an electric coil. It was all a great learning experience, and we would have been hard-pressed to complain about anything after that.
So …… what’s there to avoid about the albergue in San Juan de Ortega?
Ha …… I love that !..... once was exactly the right number of times to stay for me.
We also attended a lovely service at the Church, celebrated by two priests from a neighbouring village. After also receiving the pilgrim’s blessing, we sat outside on the benches, leaning against the church wall and warming ourselves in the late afternoon sun. It was magnificent..... I have never slept in the albergue, though I have spent a long time in the amazing adjacent church. ....
I frequently see posts about unfriendly staff/bar owners. Personally, I LOVE meeting old grouches, I see it as a personal challenge to make them smile. Some of the grumpiest old men I know have become my dearest friends. Don't go looking for 5 star service, and expect everyone you meet to enrich, please and enlighten your experience. Be prepared to do that for others as well.I have submitted this elsewhere, but I thought I would repost to echo the opinion expressed by FatmaG
Let me add to your list of not recommended.
8.6 km past O’Cebreiro is Alto do Poio. If you cross the road to the Hostal Santa Maria do Poio, you will come across the rudest, and obviously the most unhappy bar owner in Spain. After almost four weeks on the Camino, it was my first really unpleasant experience. If I’d walked only 3.5 km more, there is a beautiful new albergue in Fonfria.
The one I would avoid is - Home! The hospitalero is idle, always talking about his own camino and dreaming and planning his next one, doesn't appreciate or understand me anywhere near as much as he does his forum friends.
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